Six ways Catholic students can grow closer to Mary
In September and October, two significant Marian feasts present opportunities for Catholic students to deepen their faith and cultivate a personal relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sept. 15 is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. It is a time to reflect on Mary’s trials and sorrows, particularly during Jesus’s passion and death.
Oct. 7 marks the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, commemorating the Rosary’s powerful prayer and the historic Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1517. The battle is often attributed with spiritual significance due to the recitation of the rosary by the Catholic forces before and during the battle.
By observing these Marian feasts, students become closer to Mary. They will also enhance their connection to Christ through prayer, reflection, and community action. Here are six practical and meaningful ways Catholic students can celebrate these feasts:
Take up the daily rosary
October is traditionally dedicated to the rosary. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on Oct.7 provides a unique opportunity to develop a daily rosary practice. By meditating on the life of Christ and Mary through its mysteries, students can grow in faith, peace, and spiritual resilience. The rosary is a powerful tool for prayer and contemplation, guiding students to reflect on the joys, sorrows, and triumphs of Christ’s life.
The daily practice also provides an anchor in times of stress or difficulty.
Consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Marian consecration
Catholic students can embark on a 33-day Marian consecration. Students can do this by following the program outlined in “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Father Michael Gaitley. The program culminates in a personal dedication to Jesus through Mary. It deepens participants’ relationships with Mary as they entrust their lives more fully to Christ. The consecration can strengthen students’ spiritual life by helping them embrace Mary as a motherly guide and mediator.
It also cultivates a sense of peace, purpose, and spiritual devotion long after the 33 days.
Learn about Marian apparitions
Encouraging students to learn about Marian apparitions—such as those at Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe—can inspire devotion and offer insight into Mary’s role in the Church. Each apparition holds a unique message, often centered on prayer, penance, and conversion. These stories serve as powerful examples of Mary’s ongoing involvement in the life of the faithful.
Learning about these miraculous events helps students understand how Mary’s intercession can shape the world. It also deepens their appreciation for her influence throughout Church history.
Plant a Marian garden in the school community
Establishing a Marian garden in the school community is a creative and reflective way to honor Mary. Students can plant flowers traditionally associated with Mary—such as roses, lilies, and marigolds—around a statue of the Blessed Virgin. This garden can serve as a peaceful space for prayer and contemplation.
This initiative fosters teamwork and stewardship while providing students a tangible and beautiful reminder of Mary’s presence in their lives. It also creates a quiet space for reflection and connection with nature.
Start a rosary club
Organizing a rosary club allows students to pray together, share their faith, and develop a community centered on prayer. The club can meet regularly to recite the rosary, study its mysteries, and discuss the meaning behind this powerful prayer.
Students feel part of a larger community of believers by gathering to pray the Rosary.
Read: Elementary students stay after school to say the rosary, spend time with Mary each week
Spread Marian devotion online
Like Blessed Carlo Acutis, students can spread the power of Marian devotion through social media. Acutis was a young Italian tech-savvy Catholic who used the internet to promote the Eucharist and the Catholic faith. He will be canonized as the Church’s first Millennial saint in 2025.
Catholic students can promote Marian devotion on social media. They can create and share engaging content, such as videos, reflections, and memes, highlighting Mary’s role and the power of the Rosary. Additionally, they can organize virtual Rosary events, promote Marian novenas, and share personal testimonies online to inspire others.
Featured Image: A teen girl prays the rosary. (via Canva)
